In between shouts and claps outside Pauley Pavilion, 100.3 The
Beat radio comic Steve Harvey gave his closing remarks focusing on
increasing the number of blacks that attend UCLA and universities
in general.
“Make it possible for others to learn how to do your thing
so they can make it,” said Harvey to over 100 students and
employees gathered in front of Pauley Pavilion Thursday
morning.
The Steve Harvey morning show pokes fun at its mostly black and
Latino audience, but it also strives to represent inclusion and
education.
“He’s socially and politically aware of a lot of
things in the black community and brings them up on the air.
He’s being real, and I appreciate that,” fifth-year
student Niamah Adams said after winning two tickets to
Knott’s Berry Farm.
Aside from having a morning radio show, a TV show and being a
comedian, Steve Harvey also donates money to schools in Compton and
Los Angeles to buy much needed books for the classrooms.
The crowd started to grow around 8:30 a.m. Steve Harvey gave
away prizes ranging from Knotts’ tickets to $100, while
making fun of the crowd with his Southern humor.
“I’m from the South so I understand his humor. He
reminds me of my uncles,” said third-year student Brandon
Boykina
Steve Harvey is also an inspiration to his audience, said
Boykina.
“Steve Harvey is my favorite comedian. It’s cool to
hear all the community updates because when you’re at UCLA
you’re confined to campus and you don’t hear
what’s going on on the outside,” second- year student
Adriana Jordan said.
Yet, there were some students who did not agree with everything
that Steve Harvey said, especially about higher education.
“It’s very unfair to think of university students as
just rich when there’s many poor and underprivileged students
coming here like myself,” said third-year Fabiola Quezada
after going one-on-one in a debate match with Steve Harvey.
“Go to the African American communities and tell them what
to do to get here,” said Harvey since only four percent of
UCLA undergraduates are blacks, compared to over 30 percent for
Asians and whites.
At the beginning of his show, Harvey expressed his displeasure
toward having to perform outside of Pauley Pavilion instead of
indoors.
“We’re inside in every campus and for them not to
accommodate us, I don’t know how to look at that. But
I’ve never canceled a performance and I never disappoint
students. I love the UCLA students,” Harvey said.
Harvey also commented on the Chancellor’s absence during
the show, claiming that the chancellors of other schools made the
effort to be present when their schools hosted the program.
Lauren Bartlet, Albert Carnesale’s press aid, said he was
not invited and was told the event was going to focus on UCLA
students and on this weekend’s homecoming.